Man facing charges from pro-Trump rally in Berkeley put in jail

Updated 7:01 pm, Friday, August 25, 2017

Photo: Elijah Nouvelage, Getty Images

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Trump supporter, Kyle Chapman, left, clashes with protesters at a "Patriots Day" free speech rally on April 15, 2017 in Berkeley, California. More than a dozen people were arrested after fistfights broke out at a park where supporters and opponents of President Trump had gathered.

Trump supporter, Kyle Chapman, left, clashes with protesters at a "Patriots Day" free speech rally on April 15, 2017 in Berkeley, California. More than a dozen people were arrested after fistfights broke out at

Identity Evropa founder Nathan Damigo, in a blue shirt at center, faces off with counter-protesters during a conservative rally on Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Berkeley, Calf. Damigo , who leads the white nationalist group, studies social sciences at Cal State Stanislaus. Kyle Chapman, aka “Based Stickman,” is pictured at left in helmet.

Identity Evropa founder Nathan Damigo, in a blue shirt at center, faces off with counter-protesters during a conservative rally on Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Berkeley, Calf. Damigo , who leads the white

A member of the "Proud Boys" alt-right group cheers as Kyle Chapman speaks during a "free speech rally" at Terry Schrunk Plaza in Portland on June 4, 2017. An anti-fascist counter-protest gathered across the street at Chapman Park and another in front of city hall, as a response to the racially-motivated killings the week before on Portland's light-rail. (Genna Martin, seattlepi.com) less

A member of the "Proud Boys" alt-right group cheers as Kyle Chapman speaks during a "free speech rally" at Terry Schrunk Plaza in Portland on June 4, 2017. An anti-fascist counter-protest gathered across the ... more

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Kevin Kamath, left, and Kyle Chapman, right, get into an altercation at the Texas State Capitol during a march against President trump calling for his impeachment Sunday, July 2, 2017, in Austin, Texas. (Joshua Guerra /Austin American-Statesman via AP) less

Kevin Kamath, left, and Kyle Chapman, right, get into an altercation at the Texas State Capitol during a march against President trump calling for his impeachment Sunday, July 2, 2017, in Austin, Texas. ... more

Photo: Joshua Guerra, Associated Press

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Kyle Chapman, president of the Texas Alt-Knights, is held back by his fellow Trump supporters from confronting Trump protester Nevin Kamath, far left, at the impeachment march at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Sunday July 2, 2017. Kamath tried to get into the Trump supporters' group photo and put his arm around Chapman. Chapman responded by shoving Kamath. Hundreds rallied at the Capitol and marched to City Hall and back to demand the impeachment of President Trump. Dozens of supporters of President Trump disrupted the rally and march. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) ORG XMIT: TXAUS101

Kyle Chapman, president of the Texas Alt-Knights, is held back by his fellow Trump supporters from confronting Trump protester Nevin Kamath, far left, at the impeachment march at the Capitol in Austin, Texas,

Kyle Chapman, 41, of Daly City, arrives at Alameda County Superior Court on Friday, where a judge remanded him into custody based on felony charges stemming from a violent rally in Berkeley between supporters of President Trump and counterprotesters. less

Kyle Chapman, 41, of Daly City, arrives at Alameda County Superior Court on Friday, where a judge remanded him into custody based on felony charges stemming from a violent rally in Berkeley between supporters ... more

John Noonan, the attorney representing right-wing activist Kyle Chapman, walks through a crowd of reporters after an arraignment for his client on a weapons charge at Wiley C. Manuel Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland, Calif. on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. Chapman was taken into custody and bail was set at $135,000. less

John Noonan, the attorney representing right-wing activist Kyle Chapman, walks through a crowd of reporters after an arraignment for his client on a weapons charge at Wiley C. Manuel Alameda County Superior ... more

A convicted felon charged with possession of a leaded stick allegedly used to hit counterprotesters during a pro-President Trump event in Berkeley this year was ordered jailed Friday and told to stay away from the site of a far-right rally planned in the East Bay city Sunday.

Kyle “Based Stickman” Chapman, a 41-year-old Daly City man, could face up to eight years in state prison if convicted of the felony charge of possessing a lead pipe, according to officials.

The possibility of a lengthy sentence stems from his previous criminal history, including a 1993 felony robbery conviction in Texas and a 2001 grand theft conviction in San Diego County, court officials said.

Chapman declined to comment Friday to a reporter as he entered Alameda County Superior Court. He sat in court ahead of his hearing commenting to those seated next to him on the violence that broke out this month at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., saying most people pegged as neo-Nazis and white supremacists were trying to “preserve their heritage.”

During his arraignment, Chapman was remanded to jail by Judge Mark A. McCannon. The judge set bail at $135,000 and ordered Chapman to stay 300 yards away from Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, the site of his arrest in March and a Sunday “No to Marxism” rally that had been planned by a far-right group.

“When I’m talking to you, I want you to pay attention,” McCannon said, pausing midsentence while Chapman looked down at a document. “You’re ordered to have no weapons of any kind.”

Chapman was led away with his hands behind his back after the hearing.

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Berkeley's 'No To Marxism in America' rally application for Civic Center Park has been denied its permit by the Office of the City Manager.

Media: Brandpoint

John Noonan, Chapman’s attorney, said his client plans to plead not guilty. He said he hasn’t formed an opinion on whether the current charges were appropriate.

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“I have no idea,” Noonan said outside the courtroom. “Till we get discovery, I won’t know anything.”

Chapman announced to his social media followers Thursday night that he would be in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland on Friday for an arraignment, posting on Twitter and Facebook, “Regardless, I will be attending the SF and Berkeley rallies. Never surrender.” The San Francisco rally, planned for Saturday at Crissy Field, was called off later in the day.

It was not clear if the judge or prosecutors saw Chapman’s online posts before Friday’s hearing.

Chapman ended his last post by writing “DEUS VULT!” — an ancient Latin battle cry used by European Christians in the First Crusade, one of a series of holy wars during the Middle Ages. The expression means “God wills it.”

In a previous social media post, Chapman denied taking a leaded stick to the pro-Trump event in Berkeley on March 4, calling the charge “trumped up bogus.”

He was arrested with 10 other people when violence broke out between Trump supporters and counterprotesters at the civic center park. He has gained a following of white nationalist supporters since his arrest.

Officer Darrin Rafferty of the Berkeley Police Department said in a probable cause declaration that police seized a large stick from Chapman with two American flags on it that “had been fashioned and carried as a weapon.” The declaration also states that Chapman was recorded on video shooting what appeared to be pepper spray at counterprotesters while wearing a black baseball helmet and goggles, and taking a swing with a long piece of lumber at a woman.

Berkeley officials have denied a permit for the far-right demonstration against Marxism on Sunday, and on Friday the organizer of that rally urged supporters not to attend because of safety concerns.

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